Post by EXO on Apr 8, 2008 16:39:39 GMT 8
Combat Over CorregidorBy Charles H. Bradford M.D.
The fully restored text of the intimate, first hand account of the premier combat jump of the Pacific War, is now published in hardcover and paperback for the first time.
COMBAT OVER CORREGIDOR is a tribute to the humanity, camaraderie, teamwork and strength of purpose of the ordinary American citizen soldier in the 1940's rather than a sequential retelling of individual battles on a distantly relevant Philippine battlefield.
Charlie Bradford, who wrote this book, was a surgeon in the Second Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, when it retook Corregidor in one of the most dangerous airborne envelopments of World War II.
"Wherever you were, you could turn around and Charlie would be there," one veteran later commented. It was a life defining moment for all of them. But throughout his life, though, Charlie would talk little of it, and then not to people who weren't there. Instead, he wrote this manuscript, which he forbade from publishing until after his death. He did allow it to be used as an Anonymous reference source for books written about Corregidor by the Belotes, Devlin and Flanagan.
The full manuscript remained an insider's secret amongst 503d Troopers for over fifty years. The names in the original manuscript were not published. The manuscript was made available to the Belote Brothers, and to Gerry Devlin for their histories, but they were prohibited at the time from identifying the manuscript or its origin.
However, in consultation withour sources, we have restored almost all of the missing names to the original text. Now the manuscript can take its crucial place in the 503d PRCT's History and Heritage.
IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THE 503D PRCT, THEN YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT THIS BOOK.
It also contains the entire series of the States Photographs which were originally published in Templeman's now rare Return to Corregidor book. (The States Photographs are the name given to a series of photographs which were taken of all the paratroopers upon their return from Corregidor. The men were photographed not in their platoons, but in accord with the states in which they had enlisted.)These photographs are reproduced in exquisite detail, copied not from Templeman's cloudy versions, but copied from original first generation photographic prints made from the original negatives by master photographer Fred Hill. Every face of every Corregidor Trooper is crystal-clear and the troopers are easily recognizable.
There are also 17 full page full color plates of Corregidor Then & Now battlefields, buildings and scenery, and three full page black and white aerial photographs of the invasion as it happened, plus a full color map. The text is enhanced by 112 black and white photographs spread throughout its glossy 160 pages.
The book is professionally printed by a "print on demand" company and its selling price reflects printing and production costs and our 'not for profit' status. We remain a volunteer, donation based group, and we want to be here the next time you are.
Check the 16 page preview of the book at